Daniel Fishel and Alison Gillow have swapped the intensity of London life for the rolling hills of North Wales, where they now run a small collection of holiday cottages near Corwen. Complete with alpacas, other pets and a luxury hot tub, guests arrive from all corners of the UK (and abroad). AliDan Holiday Cottages and Retreats has become a peaceful space for people seeking rest, reconnection and a slower pace of life.
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Their cottages, marketed through Alidan Holiday Cottages, attract visitors from across the UK, including guests looking for peaceful breaks and facilitators hosting wellness retreats. With countryside views, their unique ‘alpaca experience’ and a hot tub for soaking under the stars, the business offers exactly what many people feel they are missing in modern life.
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Former teacher Daniel, 68, had an upbringing shaped by both love and challenge. He grew up in Liverpool in a caring household, despite his mother living with bipolar disorder and his father suffering from post-traumatic stress following more than three years as a prisoner of war in Africa during the Second World War. “It was a loving childhood,” Daniel says, “but not without its difficulties.”
One constant source of joy was the family caravan near Colwyn Bay. Almost every weekend of his childhood was spent there, surrounded by countryside and sea air. Those formative experiences planted a deep love of Wales that would later resurface in an unexpected way.
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In 1976, Daniel moved to Bradford to study at university, remaining in West Yorkshire for the next 24 years. Much of that time was devoted to music and the lifestyle that came with being a young musician. While music fed his soul, training as a teacher proved essential for keeping financial stability and he started his long career as a teacher.
A major turning point came in late 1999 when Daniel moved to London with his three-year-old son, over whom he had custody. They moved into a home in Finchley with Daniel’s future wife — remarkably, his first girlfriend from the age of eleven. London life was intense. Although Daniel cherished the experience of living in a household with five children, the relationship eventually deteriorated.
“London was stressful and the fast paced life can really affect your mental health,” he reflects. “People seemed mostly focused on making money and surviving. It was overcrowded and polluted. Walks on Hampstead Heath were sometimes the only thing that kept me sane.”
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The next chapter of Daniel’s life began when he met Alison. Their relationship transformed both of them, and after three years together they began to consider how they could build a shared future under one roof. Initially, Wales was meant to be a holiday destination, but it quickly became something more permanent.
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Daniel made the move first, and Alison joined him at the start of the Covid lockdown. What began as a change of scenery soon evolved into a new way of life. The couple’s holiday let business started almost by accident. Their home included a cottage in the garden, which seemed ideal for listing on Booking.com and Airbnb.
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Encouraged by its success, they went on to buy another holiday rental up the road. Eventually, the couple purchased a third property together, located right next to their own home. Today, they are surrounded by holidaymakers — something that suits them perfectly. “We’re very sociable,” Daniel says. “So, it’s no problem at all.”
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Since opening up the holiday let business, the couple have hosted a wide variety of guests from all over the UK — from couples and families to groups of friends and retreats. With stunning views and the kind of serenity that people crave, their country breaks have received glowing reviews. The cottages are an ideal base for exploring North Wales — from Snowdonia to the coast and nearby Llangollen.
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But it’s the alpacas that many people love the most! Ned, the herd leader, is charismatic and macho — meanwhile Griffin competes for leadership by biting Ned in ‘delicate’ places. Toffee, affectionately named after Daniel’s beloved Everton FC, is the prettiest but isn’t the smartest. Together, the trio provide endless joy to visitors — and in many cases, therapy.
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For Daniel, the move to Wales represents more than semi-retirement — it’s a return to the values and landscapes that shaped him as a child. “Living here feels right,” he says. “In many ways, I’ve come home.” For both he and Alison, the new rural life has given them what more and more people desperately crave these days — PEACE!
Alidan Holiday Cottages / Nr Corwen, North Wales, LL21 9PD / 07801 280 828
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